The Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, an affiliate of the National Teacher of the Year Program puts the spotlight on outstanding teachers and the importance of the Teaching Profession. Maryland rewards Teachers of the Year with numerous awards. The Maryland Teacher of the Year receives monetary awards and extraordinary gifts including a gift, from the Maryland Automobile Dealers' Association, of a new car. The school of the Maryland Teacher of the Year also receives a $10,000 cash award from McDonald's Family Restaurants of Maryland. All 24 district Teachers of the Year meet regularly with the State Superintendent to advise her about policy and reform efforts.

Corporate sponsors underwrite the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program. They include:

For more information on how teachers are nominated for this prestigious award, contact your local Teacher of the Year Coordinator. Please click on the following link to see the list of local Teacher of the Year Coordinators and their email address.

President Barack Obama (center) and Education Secretary Arne Duncan (right) honored Maryland’s Michelle Shearer as National Teacher of the Year in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House on May 3. Ms. Shearer is an AP chemistry teacher at Urbana High School in Frederick County.

Michelle Shearer, 2011 Maryland and National Teacher of the Year, Joshua Parker 2012 Md Teacher of the Year and Darla Strouse, Teacher of the Year Program Director at the 2012 National Teacher of the Year Conference in Dallas, Texas.January 28, 2012

What is the Teacher of the Year Program?The Maryland and National Teacher of the Year Programs recognize and honor exemplary elementary, middle, and high school teachers that are excellent instructors and education leaders in their schools and communities. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) oversees this program with all twenty-four local school systems participating. Annually, each local school system selects its top candidate for Maryland Teacher of the Year and submits the teacher's comprehensive packet to the Maryland State Department of Education which appoints a Blue Ribbon Judging Panel of education and community leaders. This panel selects the finalists and from the finalists, the Maryland Teacher of the Year. The State winner is entered in the competition for National Teacher of the Year, an esteemed position. The National Teacher leaves the classroom and spends the year as a teacher ambassador, speaking nationally and internationally. What are the selection criteria?

What are the selection criteria?Teachers fill out an application describing their professional interests, community involvement, and philosophy of teaching. They also answer questions about education issues and trends and the teaching profession. Local selection criteria vary. Contact local school systems for that information.

What is the selection process?Teachers must first be selected as candidates by their local school systems. Selection processes vary by school system. Specific information can be obtained from the school system’s Teacher of the Year Coordinators. Their contact information can be found in the link included in the next section. The twenty-four school systems submit their local Teacher of the Year candidate packets to the Maryland State Department of Education. Written applications are judged and the selected finalists are announced and later interviewed at the state level by the Blue Ribbon Panel which consists of education organization leaders.

How can a teacher be recommended for this award?School systems are always searching for recommendations for this and other teacher awards. School system Teacher of the Year Coordinators’ contact information can be found using the following link: Teacher of the Year Coordinators. You can also contact the Maryland State Department of Education's Office of Partnerships at 410-767-0370.

What Maryland Teacher of the Year celebrations and events take place?Maryland's twenty-four Teachers of the Year are celebrated in many ways by their local school systems. State honors include: The Maryland State Board of Education Ceremony and Luncheon, The Teacher of the Year Annual Cruise, The Teacher of the Year Gala, an Oscars style event, a 3-Day Environmental Retreat, Teacher recognition on the floor of the Maryland House and Senate, a Teacher of the Year Day Field Recognition and Game at Camden Yards, and a Congressional Day in Washington, D.C.

What do Teachers of the Year receive?Teachers of the Year win tremendous respect as the nation's best teachers. This reputation means prestige in the community and in the State. All 24 local Teachers of the Year receive numerous gifts and prizes, honors and programs listed above, and three continuing education credits for the time they spend in teaching and learning as Teachers of the Year. The Maryland Teacher of the Year receives a new car as a gift from the Maryland Automobile Dealers’ Association. In addition, the Maryland winner receives a cash award, $20,000 in technology equipment from Smart Technologies, Apple Computers and others and numerous other prizes. The National Teacher of the Year Program also awards the teacher, a week at National Space Camp, several conferences with fellow State Teachers of the Year, and the opportunity to be personally commended by the President of the United States at the White House.

What role does the Maryland Teacher of the Year play?The Maryland Teacher of the Year travels the state, speaking at numerous conferences, dinners, commencement programs, and other events. The teacher is also invited to be on local and state advisory committees. While the teacher does not leave the classroom, he or she generally has a co-teaching assistant during peak speaking months. As a National Teacher of the Year, the teacher does leave the classroom for one full year to serve as an education ambassador and spokesperson.

Mrs. Laura Bush addresses the audience Wednesday, April 26, 2006, as President Bush and Kim Oliver, the 2006 National Teacher of the Year, look on during a ceremony on the South Lawn honoring Ms. Oliver and the State Teachers of the Year. White House photo by Paul Morse

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush accompany 2006 National Teacher of the Year Kim Oliver to the South Lawn ceremony in her honor Wednesday, April 26, 2006. Said the President of the Silver Spring, Maryland kindergarten teacher, "Kim Oliver understands that the key to helping children succeed is fighting the soft bigotry of low expectations." White House photo by Paul Morse